This heroic student was shot five times saving 20 classmates from Florida shooter

Earlier this week, we learned the horrible news that a mass shooting had taken place on the premises of a Florida high school. At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, an ex-student had opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, killing 17 people and injuring 15 others.

Eventually it was discovered that the culprit was 19-year-old Nicolas Cruz, who was arrested and charged after a brief but expansive manhunt in the area.

Credit: Getty

What made this shooting different than the many others that have taken place in the United States over the years, is that the survivors who saw their classmates gunned down are now marching on Washington in a protest against the government's substandard gun control laws.

Student Emma Gonzalez gave a speech at a rally at Fort Lauderdale Federal Courthouse, where over a thousand people gathered to discuss the issue. Her speech was incredibly powerful, as she directed her anger towards the lawmakers who often receive donations from the National Rifle Association.

"To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA, shame on you! Shame on you!" she told the crowd. "Politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA telling us nothing could have been done to prevent this: We call BS!”

One of the survivors of the brutal attack that Gonzalez spoke of in her emotional speech was Anthony Borges. The 15-year-old was shot five times, all to protect the lives of his fellow classmates.

Another student, Carlos Rodriguez, told CBS News that he and 19 others only survived because of Anthony's actions during the fateful event. As they heard the gunfire in building 12 of the school last Wednesday, Anthony and his classmates fled to hide in a classroom. The brave teenager was the last of a group of 20 students to enter the room, and was shot as he was trying to lock the door.

Despite the fear he surely felt, he held his ground in the doorway and shielded his classmates from the bullets fired by Cruz. No one else in the room was injured because of these actions, for which they are eternally grateful.

Anthony is currently being treated for his wounds in hospital, where the Broward County Sheriff visited him last weekend. The Sheriff's Office posted a photo of the meeting on Facebook, along with the caption:

"Sheriff Israel was honored to visit Anthony Borges, 15, in the hospital today. His family shared that Anthony was shot five times in Wednesday’s school attack.

"Fortunately, he is recovering – but has a long road ahead with more surgeries needed. Please join us in praying for the swift recovery of Anthony and all the other victims of this horrific criminal act."

Anthony's father, Royer, recalled that Anthony the phone call he received from his son. "He just called me and says, 'Dad, somebody shot me in the back and my leg, too'," he told ABC News, adding: "He's my hero. I only ask that people pray for him".

Any tale of heroism like this is incredible to read, but it's all the more astonishing given that he was only 15-years-old, yet put his life on the line without a second thought. We wish Anthony a quick and full recovery.